THE first phase in the upgrade of Cecilia Makiwane Hospital was unveiled in Mdantsane yesterday.
The provincial government has budgeted a total of R1,3 billion for the project to improve the referral hospital. Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle and health MEC Phumza Dyantyi attended the unveiling event. Masualle said the new facility was equal to, if not better than, a private hospital.
Cecilia Makiwane is one of a handful of referral hospitals in the province and receives complicated cases from rural hospitals in places like Bhisho and Peddie.
The upgrades mean it will be much easier to admit patients at the new facility in the future. It is estimated that the waiting time will go down to 10 minutes from two hours. Hospital CEO Mthandeki Xamlashe said patients were spending two hours in the admissions section and 10 minutes with a doctor but the new system would swap those times around. Members of the public will be able to admit themselves by phoning the health department’s call centre and patients from nearby clinics will also be admitted.
